Team MVP – To this point, it’s really hard to centre anyone out on this team that struggled out of the gate only to climb their way out to respectability. And, while they are still in a position that no one thought they would be prior to that horrific start, an even .500 is indeed reality. So, who has stepped up and led this team?
My first half MVP goes to last years MVP, Magglio Ordonez. He is the on-field leader of this team with his bat and his under-rated steadiness in the outfield. With injuries shutting him down prior to the All-Star game, the team couldn’t continue to play within the same groove as with him in the line-up. The team sets the table for Maggs and he consistently cashes them in with clutch hitting and important at-bats.
Congrats to both Maggs & his beautiful hair on the vote…
While he may never hit .363 again, his current .307 is good enough for tops on the team. With mid-range power (12 homers thus far) it is the Right Fielders ability to drive in runs as he will again be within striking distance of knocking in 100 RBI’s as he is halfway there through his first 80 games (team has played 94, leaving 68 games on the schedule). Deserving the MVP can be simply put, that it is about the timing of his hits and what he means to this team when he is missing from the roster. Needless to say, Magglio is money in the pinch.
Close, but not quite – 3B Carlos Guillen & 1B Miguel Cabrera
Team Cy Young – Without having anyone really blow away the competition to this point, the Tigers starting staff has shown signs of things to come. Hopefully, that momentum will lead the way through the 2nd half of this season and pull this team up in the standings. With that being said, it would feel good to say that ace Justin Verlander is the most deserved, for his comeback from the rough start to the year. He has battled his way back to not only respectability, but to the level that not only Tiger fans expected, moreso the entire baseball community anticipated. However, I can’t do such a thing. With minor injuries a factor early in the year, control problems aplenty from an unnamed lefty that is now robbing the Tigers of millions of dollars while trying to find his “stuff” in ‘A’ ball, and the season-ending plight of Jeremy Bonderman and his blood clot, none other than Armando Galarraga has stepped in and will probably earn himself a steady rotation spot with his consistency through 15 starts this year. Honestly, without Galarraga turning in the performance that he has, this Tigers staff may have never hit their stride.
Armando and his consistency deserve some recognition Every 5th day, this guy has come in and gave the Tigers a chance. Minus a couple of rough outings, the 26 year old righty has provided six innings of solid stuff, en route to a 7-3 record, a more than respectable 3.27 ERA and a great 1.20 WHIP. Not bad for a player not expected to do much. Everyone has waited for the wheels to fall off, but it appears that his confidence is at an all-time high and he is indeed the real deal. We’ll see what the 2nd half provides, but I’m expecting him to continue to go out and perform like the professional that he has already shown.
Close, but not quite – SP Justin Verlander
Team Rookie of the Year – This is a category that prior to the season wouldn’t have even been considered. Other than having Clete Thomas start the season on the roster in place of injured starting Center Fielder Curtis Granderson, the Tigers were expected to have a fairly set roster full of veterans and high-priced, high skilled talent. My how things have changed. It’s fair to say that without the contributions of the ‘Mud Hens’ this team would not only be a huge disappointment, but they’d be stumped for energy and the whole battle mentality that the youth has provided.
With that being said, on the offensive side of things Matt Joyce has really provided some awe-inspiring power and deserves some credit for some consideration. With Joyce only having 94 AB’s through his 31 game stint, he has shown a tremendous array of extra-base power by blasting out 9 HR’s (1 every 10.4 AB’s). As a matter of fact, of his 25 hits, 68% are for extra bases (9 HR, 7 2B, 1 3B) showing that he belongs in the bigs. With continued development and consistency at the plate, Joyce could put together a great 2nd half and end up surprising a lot of people along the way. A couple of other spark plugs that deserve some thought are Clete Thomas and Freddy Dolsi.
Get used to this folks, watching yet another long ball fly off Matt Joyce’s bat
Even with some of the nice numbers put up by the aforementioned players, Armando Galarraga deserves the nod for this one as well, for righting the track of the de-railing Tigers rotation.
Close, but not quite - OF Matt Joyce, OF Clete Thomas & RP Freddy Dolsi
Not quite sure why you’re sulking? You’re a double winner here at WaiverSharks!!!
So, there you have it folks. You may agree, or disagree, but those are my 1st Half Heroes for your Detroit Tigers. Hopefully we’ll be able to pull in a lot more names with great 2nd half performances that push this team to the brink of playoff success.
In my opinion, they have to go 47-21 (.691) to close the season, putting them at 94-68 (.580) to be in the mix of things at the end of the year. Not impossible, as they showed us in the last month and a half, but a tough task nonetheless.
